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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-16-2021; 4-a - Resolution Re-naming the New Orange County Environmental Agricultural Center (EAC) to the Orange County Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 16, 2021 Action Agenda Item No. 4-a SUBJECT: Resolution Re-naming the New Orange County Environmental Agricultural Center (EAC) to the Orange County Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center DEPARTMENT: County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1) Letters of Support Bonnie Hammersley, 919-245-2306 2) Orange County Property Naming Policy 3) Resolution PURPOSE: To consider a resolution re-naming the new Orange County Environmental Agricultural Center (EAC) to the Orange County Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center. BACKGROUND: Bonnie B. Davis joined the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in the 1950's. Ms. Davis retired from Orange County Cooperative Extension Department in 1990 after over 40 years as the Family & Consumer Sciences Agent. Ms. Davis passed away on July 27, 2018. A proposal to re-name the New Orange County Environmental Agricultural Center (EAC) to the Orange County Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center was presented to the Board of Commissioners for consideration on February 16, 2021. The Board subsequently adopted a motion to consider the proposal as outlined in the Board's attached policy. As further noted in the policy, the next step is for the Board to consider a resolution (attached) approving the re-naming. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate financial impact related to this item. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact related to this item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the attached resolution re-naming the new Orange County Environmental Agricultural Center (EAC) to the Orange County Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center. 3 COOPERATIVE N.C.Cooperative Extension P.O.Box 8181 NC EXTENSION Orange County Center 306-E Revere Road orange.ces.ncsu.edu Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-245-2050 Fax: 919-644-3067 To: Bonnie B. Hammersley Orange County Manager 300 West Tryon Street P. O. Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 This letter is submitted in support of having the new North Campus Environmental Agriculture Center on HWY 70 West in Hillsborough, NC, named in honor of the late Mrs. Bonnie B. Davis, retired Extension Family & Consumer Science Agent (formerly Home Economics Extension Agent). I was privileged to work with Mrs, Davis during my 23-year tenure as the Orange County Extension Director and was able to observe the outstanding contributions she made to the citizens of Orange County over her 40-plus years of service. She began her career in Extension during segregation, and in spite of the challenges of those times, was a calm, steadying force throughout the integration of the Orange County Extension Service. Mrs. Davis retired in 1990, and over the course of her career, she gave tirelessly of her time, expertise, and resource on many occasions, sacrificing time away from her family to serve the needs of Orange County families. Within Orange County, Mrs. Davis was known throughout Extension as a catalyst for new,visionary ideas and who had a knack for building inspired teams of doers. Her areas of organizational expertise were housing and food & nutrition, where she taught families how to live healthier lives regardless of their financial resources. Mrs. Davis believed that every individual could succeed if given the right training and educational resources. Both during and after my tenure as Extension Director, I have heard countless positive testimonies from county residents who were beneficiaries of the educational training they received from Mrs. Davis. Her devotion to the citizens of Orange County also extended to its young people, who she personally assisted in ensuring their admission to college on several occasions. Over the course of her career, Mrs. Davis' contributions to Extension have been recognized at the local, state, and national level. In addition to numerous awards for meritorious service, Mrs. Davis was most proud of receiving the Pauli Murray Human Relations Award from Orange County, which was awarded for her service in pursuit of equality,justice and human rights for all citizens. She was also an engaged community advocate who served as a bridge that helped to unite both the rural and urban populations in the county. She worked actively behind the scenes with the Orange County Board of Commissioners, helping to shape the agenda of county affairs for the benefit of the communities she served. In light of her outstanding contributions to Orange County, it would only be fitting to honor Mrs. Davis by naming the new Environmental Agriculture Center in her honor. If I can provide further support on this issue, please feel free to contact me. N.C. A&T N C STAT STATE UNIVERSITY IINIVFHSIT NC State University and N.C.A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race,color,national origin,religion, political befiefs,famJy and marital status,sex,age,veteran status,sexual identity,genetic information or disability.NC State,N.C.A&T,U.S.Department of Agriculture,and local governments cooperating. 4 Sincerely, -q &4 Dr. Fletcher Barber,Jr., Ed.D. l Former Orange County Extension Director (1988-2009) fletcherbarberlr@gmail.com (919)-614-1057 Emeritus Faculty Member North Carolina State University North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service 5 November 27, 2020 Bonnie B. Hammersley Orange County Manager P. O. Box 8181 Hillsborough,NC 27278 Dear Ms. Hammersley, I am writing to support the nomination to name the new Northern Campus of the Environment and Agricultural Building after Bonnie B. Davis, who faithfully served the citizens of Orange County through her 40 years of work with the Cooperative Extension Service. I had the pleasure of working with Bonnie Davis as her co-worker for several years just before she retired in 1990. Having worked with Cooperative Extension for 12 years before coming to Orange County, I had heard of Mrs. Davis, since she had a statewide reputation as an excellent Extension Agent, but it was a pleasure to be able to work with her personally. Even though I was an experienced educator, she helped me hone my skills and become a much better and more effective professional. Mrs. Davis was always willing to help people better their lives by giving them the skills necessary to excel, and she made a difference in countless lives during her career. I was always encountering young and old people who credited Mrs. Davis in helping them succeed in their lives and careers. She was always gracious, professional, regal, and a wonderful role model. She got along with people from all walks of life. When Mrs. Davis started work with Extension in the 1950's, I think she was the first Black Extension Agent in Orange County and only worked with Black clientele. Extension had a volunteer organization called Home Demonstration Clubs at that time,who were community clubs that Extension delivered educational programs to on a regular basis. (The clubs have changed names through the years, and are now called Extension and Community Association or ECA Clubs.) Mrs. Davis organized many of the clubs during her career. Until the 1960's,the Black and white groups were separate. In the middle of the 1960's,the Extension Agents and the Home Demonstration Clubs were integrated. I spoke to the white Extension Agent who was Mrs. Davis's co-worker during that integration effort, and she told me that working with Mrs. Davis made the transition much easier,because Mrs. Davis was "thorough, smart, generous, and gracious." Since one of the Orange County Home Demonstration Club members was State President of the organization at that time, Orange County served as a model for the whole state. Mrs. Davis's calm,peacekeeping skills, and forgiving strength helped make this transition smoother. Early in her career,Mrs. Davis also served as the person in charge of 4-H Youth programs for the Black community. She organized the first 4-1-1 clubs in the northern part of the county. Those clubs have remained active for many years, and the youth who participated have gone on to successful careers and.lives. 6 Also, in the 1960's, Mrs. Davis worked with three families to participate in an Extension Housing Demonstration program using Extension house plans to build an affordable house, and working with Farmer's Home Administration to finance the homes. This enabled Black families with limited resources to enjoy home ownership, and they and their families still live in the homes today. What an amazing accomplishment for affordable housing in the 1960's! During her long career, Mrs. Davis taught educational programs for the public in home finances to help families learn to make wise decisions, taught workshops on energy conservation and repairs they could make to make their homes more efficient,taught them to refurbish items they had such as furniture, old trunks, make draperies, and many other skills to save money and make their living environment better with limited funds. She taught canning and food preservation workshops to learn how to safely preserve the foods that they could grow in their gardens. This was done years ago, long before the current trend to learn these skills! She taught foods and nutrition classes to help families learn how to prepare nutritious foods. She also gave leadership for many years to the Expanded Foods and Nutrition Program (EFNEP),which used paraprofessionals to visit homes of limited resource families with small children to teach them how to feed their children on a limited budget. For many years, she taught a weight-loss, program called NoonLiting to help adults learn how to eat a healthy and balanced diet and to exercise. Many people lost weight as a result of the class, and many were able to decrease medication that they had been taking for health issues. During her career,Mrs. Davis received the Distinguished Service Award, and the Continued Excellence Award, two of the highest national awards given by the National Association of Extension Home Economists, which was her professional association. Mrs. Davis's contributions were not limited to her work with Extension, nor did they cease when she retired from the organization in 1990. She was always an advocate for literacy, and served on the Literacy Council. She was a founding member of the Friends of Department of Social Services. She was an active member of her church and served on many committees. She was a life long active member of Delta Sigma Theta and the Links,Inc. She has served as a role model for many youth and adults throughout her life. I cannot think of another individual who is more deserving of having this building named in her honor. Mrs. Davis touched the lives of so many people during her life in Orange County, and she was always a diplomatic presence whatever the circumstances. She continued to support Cooperative Extension programs until her death. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at alice_pettitt@ncsu.edu. Respectfully, (..&c dl Alice L. Pettitt Orange County Extension Agent, 1987-2008 Field Faculty Emeritus NC Cooperative Extension Service North Carolina State University 7 104 Pebblestone Drive Durham,NC 27703 December 3, 2020 Mrs. Bonnie B. Hammersley Orange County Manager P.O. Box 8181 Hillsborough,NC 27278 Dear Mrs. Hammersley: It is my great pleasure to write this letter in support of an initiative to name the new Environment and Agricultural Building in honor of the late Extension Agent, Mrs. Bonnie B. Davis. Mrs. Davis is indeed worthy of this posthumous honor as a result of her overwhelming dedication and commitment to the families of Orange County. I had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Davis from 1982 until the time of her death in 2018. I initially met Mrs. Davis in the early years of my career with NC Cooperative Extension. She possessed a very warm and welcoming demeanor, and served as a mentor and a role model to many younger agents. What I admired most about Mrs. Davis was that she would consistently strive to stay on the cutting edge of new information and ideas in order to maintain fresh and innovative educational programs. To put it simply,Mrs. Davis was not complacent. Although she was closer to the end of her career, she continued to improve and to grow as a professional. In 1993, I transferred to Orange County to join the NC Cooperative Extension staff, where I filled the position that had been vacated by Mrs. Davis when she retired some years earlier. She remained in the community for several years during her retirement until she moved to Michigan to be cared for by her daughter. During the time when Mrs. Davis was still residing in the county, she provided a great deal of assistance and support to the Extension staff. Whenever we were attempting to implement major educational programs or events, she always provided hands- on support, advice, and wisdom. During the early years of my time working in Orange County, I vividly recall that many of the young African American department heads were mentored by Mrs. Davis. They looked upon her as a valued and trusted friend who they could rely on for sound advice and counsel. What I admired most about Mrs. Davis was that she was gifted in her ability to lead,but could also easily coexist in a supportive role. Although she was highly respected and even revered in the community, she had a very humble spirit and a servant's heart. I've met numerous highly accomplished adults in Orange County over the years who credit Mrs. Davis for providing them with a firm foundation on which their current successes firmly rest. She established strong relationships with many families in the community, and worked with youth and adults on methods of improving their diet and health,managing their finances, and managing their homes. During the early years of Mrs. Davis' tenure with Cooperative Extension families did not have access to the proliferation of information from a variety of sources that we 8 enjoy today. As a result, she was a trusted and credible source of information in the community due to the reliable research-based information she provided. The early years of Mrs. Davis' career were filled with overt racism as a result of the segregation of the NC Agricultural Extension Service (as it was known at the time). One of the indignities experienced by Mrs. Davis and other black Extension workers was they were not allowed to use the restroom facilities in the building where they worked,but instead had to use an outhouse. In spite of this and other indignities, Mrs. Davis never lost her determination to serve the community. As the parallel Extension organizations merged into one, Mrs. Davis' diplomatic skills, calm disposition, and spirit of forgiveness served as a bridge that aided in the transition. She was the perfect person at the perfect time. Mrs. Davis' involvement and engagement extended well beyond her professional achievements. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sibling, friend, church member, and sorority sister, as well as a member of numerous boards, councils, and civic groups. Wherever she served, she gave generously of her time,talents, and resources. The Orange County community was greatly enriched by the life of Mrs. Bonnie B. Davis. Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information by calling 919-971-0643 or via email at dbrhta kaol.com. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, OMA764�Y,0 Deborah J. Taylo Retired Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent NC Cooperative Extension 9 �n ,cSEake a�eN,,tfi C7aTo&a —qEnE'LaL L=Owtt Of cqt-"Rae 15-D gul'aiaL 1&&aef 13EVERLY A. SCARLETT CHATHAM AND ORANGE COUNTIES ORANGE COUNTY COURTHOUSE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 106 E. MARGARET LANE HILLSBOROUGH, NC 27278 TELEPHONE: (919) 644-4646 PAX: (919) 644-4647 November 29, 2020 Ms. Bonnie Hammersley Orange County Manager P.O. Box 8181 Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 Dear Ms. Hammersley, write this letter in support of naming an Orange County facility in honor of Mrs. Bonnie Davis. cannot think of a person more deserving of such an honor as I would not be who I am without Mrs. Davis' influence. Before I speak more about Mrs. Davis, I would like to express the need for Orange County to focus more attention on the work of People of Color in Northern Orange County. Our community would not be the lovely place it is, attracting people from around the world, without the hard work of these pioneers. am aware that Orange County has named a facility in honor of deceased Orange County Commissioner Richard Whitted. I am unaware of any other facility named in honor of a Person of Color living within and contributing to Northern Orange County. As a proponent of justice, I believe recognizing the work of an African American female by naming an Orange County facility in Mrs. Davis' honor will have a positive impact upon all women. Honestly, I do not remember when Mrs. Bonnie Davis carve to Orange County as she was an active part of my life for as long as I can remember. Mrs. Davis served Northern Orange County as a county extension agent. As a child, Mrs. Davis visited my mother at our home regularly and they eventually formed Eno Home Economics Club. The club consisted of African American women living within the township. Mrs. Davis did presentations on improving home economics such as canning, freezing and other forms of food preparation. She also worked with women teaching and improving their sewing skills. Mrs. Davis' partner, Mr. S.N. Shelton, work with the men teaching them improvements in agriculture. With the combined work of Mrs. Davis and Mr. Shelton, families were able to efficiently run their households and provide for their children without the need for federally subsidized programs. 10 Mrs. Davis used her power and authority as an extension agent to uniquely influence race relations. I remember Mrs. Davis visiting my mother to check in on sewing projects and cooking projects. It was confusing to me because I knew my mother came from an Indigenous family known for their cooking and sewing skills. Months later, I remember riding with my mother to Cole Mill Road in Durham. We pulled up to a large white house and mother went inside. I waited in the car for about an hour before my mother returned. When mother returned, we went home without discussing what happened in the big white house. A few weeks later, I saw my mother on television appearing on the Peggy Mann Show. Mother was demonstrating how to cook a particular dish. Mother did a series of appearances demonstrating cooking and sewing. I was nearly an adult when I learned that mother had been one of this area's first People of Color to appear as a guest on the Peggy Mann Show. Mrs. Davis expanded Orange County's extension services among African Americans by encouraging home economics clubs to form 4-H clubs. My mother sprang into action and formed Eno 4-H Club. Although we had 4-H agents to come around and assist us with our meetings and projects, Ms. Davis visited independently. I began membership within our 4-H club with my first project being Bicycle Care and Repair. From there I moved into sewing. The sewing project included a competition where one modeled the article of clothing she made. I was extremely thin and painfully shy in my youth. With the encouragement of Ms. Davis, I actually, got on the homemade platform, which served as our runway, in the middle of University Mall in Chapel Hill and I modeled my outfit. I do not remember if I won the first time or second time, but I did win first place in my age group. The accolades from the audience and Mrs. Davis' act of introducing me as the winner and introducing me to strangers so they could ask me about my jumpsuit diminished my shyness. A large part of my shyness stemmed from a speech impediment discovered early in my childhood. With the support of Ms. Davis, my mother declined the offer to place me in what would now be an exceptional children's curriculum. By the time I reached middle school, Mrs. Davis suggested that I should participate in the 4H speaking contest. Certain that I was doomed for death, I figured it was easier to just do it, endure the heckling, and be done for life. I wrote a speech about a popular subject in the news. Mrs. Davis approved the speech and instructed my mother to have me recite it daily. I did so. Mrs. Davis would drop in and gently correct me on pronunciation and enunciation. I followed her instructions. On the evening of the contest, we went to Hillsborough to the building that currently houses Adult Probation/Parole and The Department of Juvenile Justice. When my name was called, I managed to go to the front and stand behind the podium. recited my speech taking care to slow down to enunciate certain words and I remembered not to use local dialect when pronouncing other words. At the end of the competition, I was the winner. That event, and other strategic opportunities suggested by Mrs. Davis-including working as a prosecutor in Orange County, led to my 26 year career of public service within my community of origin. I am aware that Mrs. Davis' influence covers many African Americans in Orange County. I am not sure of all that she has done for others but I know how her influence shaped my life making me the person I am today. 11 1 strongly recommend and encourage you to select Mrs. Bonnie Davis as the honored person for naming an Orange County facility. Should you have questions or need more information, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, �A; Be erly A. Scarlett D' trict Court Judge Judicial District 15-B Orange and Chatham Counties 12 YOLANDA V. SCARLETf, MD 1214 TERRY ROAD HILLSBOROUGH, NC 27278 Ms. Bonnie Hammersley Orange County Manager Post Office Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 November 29, 2020 Dear County Manager Hammersley, I write to put forth the name of Mrs. Bonnie B. Davis to have a building named in her honor in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Orange County is my ancestral home and I am honored to live and work in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill, respectively. To my knowledge there is not a county building in Hillsborough named for an African-American female and Mrs. Davis deserves to be the first honoree. My relationship with Mrs. Davis dates back to the early 1970's. I cannot remember the exact date, but I vividly recall the circumstances. Mrs. Davis was employed by the Orange County Extension Office and worked alongside Mrs. Fonrose Gore, in a newly desegregated environment, educating women and young girls about different topics pertaining to home economics. My mother was very active in the Eno Home Extension Club and Mrs. Davis empowered her to start a 4-H Club as an outlet for the boys and girls in our community for educational and cultural activities outside of the classroom. My first exposure to etiquette, public speaking,government and travel was through 4-H. Mrs. Davis was of tall statue and was poised. I remember working on competitive 4-H projects and Ms. Davis periodically checking in with me to make sure that I was on point. She would always book time to coach me through a dry run before an actual public presentation. Though I was several inches shorter than Mrs. Davis, after working with her I always felt confident and taller than my 5 feet 6 inches. I'm not so naive as to think that I am the only person that she coached, but she had the unique gift of making me think that I was her only charge and that I could conquer and win any 4-H competition. Mrs. Davis looked like me and was a force that complemented my mother. My mother definitely wanted the very best for my sisters and I and had the foresight to make sure that we were under the tutelage of Mrs. Davis who was a successful, educated woman of color. I watched Mrs. Davis coach and support her daughter, Bonita, as she competed in a local beauty pageant. Bonita was the only contestant of color and stood out not because she was the only African-American competing but because she was coached by her mom who was one of the smartest, most versatile women in Orange County. My first lesson in networking came from Mrs. Davis. I did not know to call it such at the time. In 1976 as I was preparing to move a few miles south in Orange County to attend UNC-Chapel, Ms. Davis made a point to make sure that I connected with her nephew, Wayne Davis, who was from Robersonville, NC before we arrived as freshmen on campus. She asked us to make sure that we periodically checked in 13 with each other and introduce each other to people we met. Unfortunately, Wayne is no longer alive but I have a more than 40 year-old UNC friend group that Mrs. Davis unknowingly forged. Since buildings in Orange County bear the names of persons instrumental in its history a building in Hillsborough should proudly display the name Bonnie B. Davis in honor of Mrs. Bonnie Briley Davis. Sincerely', r L, Yolanda V. Scarlett, MD 14 November 10, 2020 5608 Green Pine Road Cedar Grove, North Carolina 27231 As I reflect on my development as a woman of color, I remember a tall statue of a woman named Mrs. Bonnie B. Davis close by my side. Prior to my marriage in the early 1950's she was instrumental in teaching women the proper techniques for canning; because many of us had large gardens and needed other avenues for preserving our fruits and vegetables. She came to my house and demonstrated the use of a pressure canner while using fresh grown peaches from our orchard. I only knew the hot water bath method which was taught to me by my mother. Mrs. Davis emphasized to me that the pressure canner method would save time for other chores around the house. She was the first woman of color in Orange County to become a Home Demonstration Agent. Shortly thereafter, I married Willie Lawrence VanHook and moved away. I kept in touch with Mrs. Davis and was excited to hear that many other clubs had been organized; all prior to integration. In 1966, my husband and I built our house and Mrs. Davis and the County Farm Agent, Mr. Sherman Shelton guided us throughout the construction process for our home. With their combined knowledge and genuine concern for the progress of Blacks in the Northern Orange County they extended and shared their knowledge of the Farmers Home Administration which had been in existence for about six years. We applied for a loan and thereafter approved. Our home was built and an open house took place along with three other Black families that same day. The dynamic duo capitalized on the moment and introduced 4-H to the Northern Orange community. This was the first for Blacks in Northern Orange County. 15 Mrs. Davis groomed the 4-Hers in food preparation and dress making; while Mr. Shelton concentrated on horticulture and gardening. Each one had their own unique characteristics; she was poised with grace and patience and he spoke with confidence and persistence. For the first time, young gifted black youth from Northern Orange County participated and competed. Many youth of all ages received county, district, and State awards. Through 4-H and sustainable leadership the Good-Will 4-H Club traveled on numerous occasions to the National 4-H Center in Washington, DC, ski trips in the mountains, and Rock Eagle 4-H Center, Eatonton, Georgia. During the mid-1960's, Mrs. Davis was instrumental in spearheading the process for racial integration of Home Extension Clubs within the county. By 1967, with her grace, peacekeeping, calm and forgiving strength, served as a foundation to facilitate racial integration in the Orange County extension service (ref. obituary). To her credit many clubs gained National and International recognition. She made the unbelievable achievable. In 2010, I was inducted into the North Carolina 4-H Hall of Fame for making a significant impact on the North Carolina 4-H Program. I give all the credit and honor to Mrs. Bonnie B. Davis for being my mentor and dear friend. For this reason, I support the naming of the new Orange County Extension and Agriculture Center after Mrs. Bonnie B. Davis. She was our former Home Demonstration Agent; also known as the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent. Humbly submitted, Hattie S. VanHook 16 ROSETTA AUSTIN-MOORE 804 Faucette Mill Road Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 Telephone: 919-732-2402 November 20, 2020 TO: WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: As a resident of Orange County for over 57 years, it gives me a great pleasure to recommend to the committee responsible for naming the new Orange County Horne Extension and Agriculture Center the name of Mrs. Bonnie Briley-Davis. Mrs. Davis was a former Home Economics Extension Agent in Orange County from 1950 to 1990. She was married to Mr. Tarleton Z. Davis, a former elementary principal; they were the parents of one daughter, Dr. Bonita Davis-Neighbors. As a native of Robersonville, N. C., she had pleasant memories of her upbringings on a farm there; nevertheless, she quickly invested her talents, energy, and her heart in Orange County and its people. Orange County became her home in every sense of the word. I was privileged to work with Mrs. Davis at her church, Mount Bright Baptist Church, in the many roles she held there as well as on her many volunteer projects and as a member of one of her extension clubs. She was always soft-spoken, calm, and goal oriented. Her main missions in life were to educate and serve the community. She used her influence to speak out on various home and community issues, to teach organizational skills, and to motivate young people to excel. As a dedicated award-winning Home Economics Extension Agent, an educational advocate, a dependable and an involved church member, and an influential volunteer in civic and community activities, Mrs. Davis always contributed her talents as an extension agent to any group who desired her services. Working with all classes and races of people in her pursuit of excellence in her professional and volunteer work washer trademark. She has touched the lives of people of all ages, Mrs. Davis was recognized numerous times for her outstanding work. She received the N. C. Superior Leadership Award in 1986; the R. J. Reynolds Extension Service Agent Award of Excellence, as well as the N. C. Extension Service Superior Leadership Award in 1985; the Florence Hall Award in 1985 and the Distinguished Service Award in 1977, both from the N. C. Agricultural Service from the National Association of Extension Home Economists; Service to 17 Bonnie Briley-Davis Page 2 Mankind Award in 1991 for Outstanding Services to the Community; and the Rotary Club of Hillsborough's Paul Harris Fellow for her contributions to society. Mrs. Davis has served on many state and national committees and task forces related to her professional career. She retired from the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service in 1990. After retiring from her job, she continued to serve the community in many volunteer capacities. She approached her volunteer assignments with the same high degree of commitment as she did her professional work. Listed below are some of the organizations that she served: —Orange County Board of Social Services (chairman) --Friends of Social Services --Orange County Library Board of Trustees --United Way of Orange County --Regional Hospital Planning Council --Delta Sigma Theta Sorority -The Links --Orange County Women's Center --Child Care Networks --Planned Parenthood --Historic Hillsborough Commission --Orange-Chatham Comprehensive Health Board --Mount Bright Baptist Church (bookkeeper, choir, Christian Education Board, Kitchen Committee (chair), Hospitality Committee, Flower Committee (chair) etc. --Orange Congregation in Mission (one of the founders) --School Advisory Committees --Board of Directors of the Orange Medical Foundation --Young Women's Christian Association --Pauli Murray Human Relations Award Mrs. Bonnie Briley-Davis deserves to be recognized for her many contributions to Orange County. Sincerely, Rosetta Austin-Moore Retired Educator 18 Reverend Sharon S.FreeHa nd Executive Director �. November 30, 2020 ivh4Y.^iC,. ,P:Nun'• ®ciTT M Ms. Bonnie B. Hammersley, Orange County Manager [)vange P.O. Box 8181 CangregaUons Hillsborough,NC 27278 M Nedon Dear Ms. Hammersley: � 300 Millstone®ripe Old Mill Business Park It is my great joy to write a letter of support for your Hillsborough, N.C.27278 consideration in the naming of the new Extension Building (919)732-6194 ext. 10 for Mrs. Bonnie Davis. Fax(919)644-1126 ocim300mill@mindspring.com From the moment she arrived in Orange County, Bonnie brought her "down east" good manners, her love of the land www.ocimnc.org and a true sense of family to our county. She grew up in a large family and was used to living off the land and making good use of all of the resources available in her community. Bonnie brought those well-honed skills to our community and built upon them. She developed a plan to meet and greet as many groups of community folks as she could. She loved to eat so those Extension luncheon meetings were a top priority for her. She jumped into her trusty Buick and took to the back roads of Orange County. All Bonnie needed was her trusty map. She surveyed the rural parts of the county and saw some heart-breaking living conditions. She called upon some of the Extension agents to arrange for her to meet with many of the community farmers, especially the women. Women wanted to know how to make their lives easier by providing nutritious meals from the bounty of the fields and create better living conditions for their families. Samaritan Relief Ministry I think it is important to say that Bonnie did a remarkable Meals on Wheels job with race relations all over this county. Her love of Thrift Shop people carried her into situations that could be difficult,but she did her job fairly and treated people with the respect they deserved, no matter what their station in life happened to be, UnItsd Way 19 In that vein, Bonnie was a part of the Home Demonstration ' Project in North Carolina. Orange County was selected to participate in the program. Oc1M Much of the housing, especially in rural Orange County Orange was dilapidated and needed repairs. Some homes needed to Congregations be demolished. Many of them were without running water In Mission and indoor plumbing. When the project was 300 Millstone Drive complete,families were able to live more comfortably. Old Mill Business Park Because of the improvements,the county's tax base grew. Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 One of the families that Bonnie directly worked with on the (919)732-6126 HousingDemonstration project is still living and thriving in Fax {919)644-1126 p � g g rural Orange County. The children have grown up to be ocim300mill@mindspring.com productive citizens here. They have never forgotten the www.ocimnc.org impact the extension service or Bonnie had on their family. On another note, Bonnie served on the Board of Directors of Orange Congregations In Mission. She was instrumental in recruiting diverse, interfaith congregations to make up our ministry. She was a strong believer in community organizations and faith communities sitting down at the table with local governments where decisions were made. She made sure that a diverse group of rural and town folk were involved. She encouraged OCIM membership to get involved in the community and to actively serve on volunteer boards. When OCIM outgrew its 3500 square foot building, Bonnie Davis was named the Building Committee chairperson. She had a strong local and statewide presence, and was able to lead the ministry in a successful fundraising effort. Because of her commitment to the betterment of Orange County and its citizens, Bonnie gave her very best and always got the job done. Samaritan Relief Ministry It is because of her faithfulness in all things, I highly Meals on Wheels recommend Bonnie Davis for this great honor. Thrift Shop ram, The Reverend Sharon S. Freeland OCIM Executive Director 0,'®o SSF/ras United Went Attachment 2 20 POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL MEETING DATE: February 21, 1989 NUMBER: A-0390 EFFECTIVE DATE: February 21, 1989 REVISIONS:November 9, 2005 March 3, 2009 November 17,2015 December 16,2016 POLICY: Orange County Property Naming Policy Policy "Policy Statement" County owned buildings,facilities and land shall bear such names as the Orange County Board of Commissioners shall approve pursuant to this policy. This policy follows all applicable local,state and federal laws,rules and regulations. Purpose This policy is to establish the Board of County Commissioners as the responsible authority for naming of County buildings,facilities,and land. Guidelines 2.1. The naming of public buildings,facilities and land shall be done only by the Board of County Commissioners by resolution adopted by majority vote. 2.1.1. Property to be given names or titles shall be either owned by Orange County government or leased by Orange County government for its use. 2.1.2. Properties to be named or given a title include county-owned or leased buildings. 2.1.3. Official names or titles for property belonging to the County shall only be changed by the Board of County Commissioners as it deems appropriate after a public participation process. 2.1.4. Current names for property belonging to the County shall remain the same unless changed by the Board of County Commissioners upon relocation or change in function of the property. 2.1.5. Property belonging to Orange County may be named for living persons with the following qualifications. a. Any areas or rooms in buildings,other physical facilities,collections of books,records or other printed or audio-visual materials, land or water areas b. Living persons who secure funding and/or make a significant contribution to the life and well being of Orange County. c. Leased property that has been conferred a name by the lessor that is a person's name need not be renamed if it has locational or other value 21 2.1.6 Official names or titles for property belonging to or leased by the County shall be based upon geographical, historical, ecological, functional, or other such factors as the Board of County Commissioners deems appropriate. If a geographical reference of locational value is derived from the name of a person, such as a street name, it may be used in naming County property. a. A public building/facility under construction/renovation or land purchased for park development or conservation/preservation will be given a "working title" which will only become the official title of the property when formally approved as such by the BOCC b. Memorial naming of a public building, facility or land is in addition to the official title of the building/facility/land and is bestowed in accordance with Section 2.2 of this policy c. Leased property naming will respect historical names that may already be attached to the facility or as may be negotiated with the owner of the building. 2.1.7 Exceptions to this policy of naming property belonging to the County may be made by the Board of County Commissioners as it deems appropriate. 2.1.8 This policy does not apply to the naming of public streets, roads, alleys and other similar thoroughfares. 2.1.9 This policy shall not be construed as the mechanism for selling the permanent naming rights to County structures, buildings, facilities or land. 2.2. Memorial Naming (in honor of a deceased individual) of Public Buildings, Facilities, or Land: In the event Orange County wishes to honor a deceased individual by naming a public building, facility or land after such an individual, the following shall apply: 2.2.1. The person who is being honored by such a memorial shall have made a significant contribution to the well-being and betterment of Orange County. 2.2.2. The party requesting a memorial shall submit a brief biography of the person to Orange County government for recording purposes. 2.2.3. The memorial naming of a public building, facility or land will be in addition to the official name as defined in Section 2.1.6 of this policy. 2.2.4. Renaming a public building, facility or land which has previously been named in honor of or in memorial to an individual shall only be done in extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Board. Procedures 2.3. A public building/facility under construction/renovation or land purchased for park development or conservation/preservation shall be given a "working title" by staff for easy identification of the property. 22 2.4. The proposed naming of a public building, facility or land may be generated in the following manner. a. Staff shall recommend to the BOCC an official title of the public building, facility or land in accordance with Section 2.1.6 of this policy. Such recommended by staff will be made prior to the completion of any project to construct, renovate or develop the property. b. Any person, firm or association may propose a name for a County owned building, facility or land by submitting the proposal in writing to the County Manager or Clerk to the Board. c. Under certain circumstances the BOCC may wish to set in place a public process for soliciting input in the official naming of a public building, facility or land. 2.5. The County Manager shall prepare a report with recommendations for the proposed naming of the public building, facility or land and present it to the BOCC for consideration at a regularly scheduled public meeting. 2.6. Upon receipt of the report and the recommendations of the manager the BOCC will state its intent to consider the adoption of a resolution for the naming or renaming of the public building, facility or land at the next or some subsequent meeting as determined by the BOCC. 2.7. The Board may determine the public building, facility or land is of significant public interest and direct a notice be published informing the public of the Board's intent to consider the naming or renaming of the public building, facility or land and fix a time and place for a public hearing on the question. 2.8. Upon approval of the resolution by the BOCC, the public building, facility or land shall bear the name assigned to it from and after the date of Board action or such subsequent date as the BOCC may prescribe. RES-2021-017 Attachment 3 23 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION RE-NAMING THE NEW ORANGE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL AGRICULTURAL CENTER (EAC) TO THE ORANGE COUNTY BONNIE B. DAVIS ENVIRONMENTAL AND AGRICULTURAL CENTER WHEREAS, Bonnie B. Davis joined the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in the 1950's and retired from Orange County Cooperative Extension Department in 1990 after over 40 years as the Family & Consumer Sciences Agent; and WHEREAS, Bonnie B. Davis was appointed the first Orange County "colored" Home Demonstration Agent (now known as Family and Consumer Sciences Agent); and WHEREAS, Bonnie B. Davis leadership strengths served as a foundation to facilitate racial integration in the Orange County Extension office, and her positive attitude spread among 4-H youth, home demonstration club members (better known now as Extension & Community Association), and Extension employees; and WHEREAS, Bonnie B. Davis was a founding member of Friends of Department of Social Services and the Women of Distinction Extension Club, an active member of the Mars Hill Extension Club and other Extension Clubs which have served as the community connection for the NC Cooperative Extension FCS program for years; and WHEREAS, Bonnie B. Davis was the Chairperson for the Board of Social Services, was a founding member of Orange Congregations in Mission, a member of the Regional Library Board of Trustee, and was an active board member of the Orange County Literacy Council; and WHEREAS, Bonnie B. Davis received many state and local awards and was a recipient of the Orange County Pauli Murray award in 2000; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby re-name the new Orange County Environmental Agricultural Center (EAC) to the Orange County Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center. This the 16th day of March, 2021. Renee Price, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners